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| Iraq–United Kingdom relations | |
|---|---|
| Name | Iraq–United Kingdom relations |
| Envoy1 | Basil Al-Sabah |
| Envoy2 | Mark Bryson-Richardson |
| Mission1 | Embassy of Iraq, London |
| Mission2 | Embassy of the United Kingdom, Baghdad |
Iraq–United Kingdom relations describe the bilateral interactions between Iraq and the United Kingdom across diplomacy, security, trade, culture, and education. Relations have been shaped by imperial legacies such as the Mandate for Mesopotamia, major conflicts including the Anglo-Iraqi War (1941), the Iraq War, and ongoing cooperation on counterterrorism, reconstruction, and energy policy involving actors like the United Nations, the European Union, and the Kurdistan Regional Government.
The early modern and 20th-century phase featured engagement by the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the League of Nations leading to the Kingdom of Iraq under Hashemite rule and treaties such as the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of 1930. World War II interventions, including the Anglo-Iraqi War (1941) and interactions with the Free French, intersected with regional politics involving Mustafa al-Khalil and later leaders like Nuri al-Said. The 1958 14 July Revolution toppled the Hashemite monarchy and altered ties with the United States, the Soviet Union, and regional states like Iran and Saudi Arabia. The 1961 Kuwait crisis and the 1970s nationalization of Iraqi oil by the Iraq Petroleum Company transformed economic links. The 1980s Iran–Iraq War reshaped alliances amid arms deals implicating firms from London and cities such as Manchester and Glasgow. Following the Gulf War (1990–1991), UN Security CouncilResolution 687 and sanctions influenced relations until the 2003 Iraq War, a coalition including the United Kingdom armed forces, United States Department of Defense, and the New Labour government under Tony Blair toppled the Ba'ath Party and Saddam Hussein. Post-2003 reconstruction involved the Coalition Provisional Authority, the Iraqi Interim Government, the Iraqi Constitution, and domestic actors including Shia Islam leaders such as Muqtada al-Sadr and political blocs like the Islamic Dawa Party.
Bilateral diplomacy operates through the Embassy of Iraq, London and the British Embassy, Baghdad, with engagement at multilateral fora including the United Nations Security Council, NATO, and the Arab League. High-level visits have included meetings between Queen Elizabeth II and Iraqi delegations, summit-level talks with UK prime ministers such as Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and Theresa May, and Iraqi premiers like Adil Abdul-Mahdi and Haider al-Abadi. Diplomatic efforts have addressed issues raised by the International Criminal Court, UNAMI, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and bilateral legal instruments including consular agreements and trade Memoranda of Understanding involving the Department for Business and Trade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Iraq).
The UK and Iraq coordinate on counterterrorism against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, stabilization in provinces such as Mosul, Anbar Governorate, and Basra Governorate, and security sector reform of institutions including the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service. Collaborative frameworks include training by units from the British Army, liaison with the US Central Command, and cooperation with international actors like INTERPOL and Europol. Political dialogue involves deconfliction over Iranian influence represented by Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps proxies, engagement with the Kurdistan Region including the Kurdistan Democratic Party, and support for electoral processes overseen by the Independent High Electoral Commission (Iraq).
Trade links center on hydrocarbons via companies such as BP, historical involvement of the Iraq Petroleum Company, and investment in reconstruction by firms like Rolls-Royce, Babcock International, and GlaxoSmithKline in health-sector projects. Energy cooperation intersects with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and oilfields in Kirkuk, Rumaila oil field, and Basra. Financial ties include transactions through the Bank of England and Iraqi banking institutions, export credits by UK Export Finance, and involvement of consultancies such as PricewaterhouseCoopers and KPMG. Trade negotiations involve tariffs, infrastructure contracts, and private sector partnerships with companies headquartered in London, Birmingham, and Leeds.
Cultural diplomacy includes programs by the British Council, university partnerships between institutions like the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, University of London, and Iraqi universities such as the University of Baghdad and University of Mosul. Exchanges involve scholarship schemes, cooperation with museums like the British Museum on artifacts such as Mesopotamian collections, language teaching through the British Council and cultural festivals in Baghdad, Erbil, and Basra. NGOs such as Save the Children and British Red Cross have worked on heritage preservation with local actors like the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage. Media links involve broadcasters like the BBC and Iraqi outlets such as Al-Iraqiya.
UK military engagement traces from colonial-era garrisons to modern deployments in Operation Telic and Operation Shader. The British Armed Forces, including units from the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, and regiments such as the Parachute Regiment, have trained Iraqi forces alongside US Marine Corps and coalition partners. Defence procurement has included aircraft from manufacturers like BAE Systems and engines by Rolls-Royce Aerospace, and logistics support by contractors such as Serco Group and KBR. Bilateral security accords address basing, status of forces, and training missions coordinated with NATO training missions and the Combined Joint Task Force.
Contemporary disputes concern the legacy of the 2003 intervention, inquiries such as the Iraq Inquiry (Chilcot), allegations of rendition and detention involving SIS (MI6) and MI5, and debates over arms sales regulated by the UK Export Control Act. Humanitarian and reconstruction criticisms cite contractors, oversight of funds by the International Monetary Fund, and allegations raised in journalism by outlets like The Guardian and The Times. Regional tensions involve the roles of Iran and Turkey in Iraqi affairs, disputes over Kurdish independence referendums, oil revenue sharing adjudicated by the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court, and concerns about corruption addressed by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
Category:Foreign relations of Iraq Category:Foreign relations of the United Kingdom